Freight planning / China–Australia
How to request comparable China–Australia freight quotes
Send every provider the same packed cargo description and ask for the same service boundary. An attractive line-haul figure can exclude origin collection, export handling, Australian clearance, terminal charges or delivery. A useful comparison makes those omissions visible.
1. Describe the physical shipment
List each handling unit, its outside dimensions in centimetres, gross packed kilograms, piece count, packaging type and commodity. The carrier may compare actual with dimensional mass. The chargeable-weight calculator shows that arithmetic with a source-labelled divisor; ask the quoted carrier for its own divisor and rounding method.
2. Name both ends of the route
Specify the China pickup address or port, the Australian port or airport where relevant, and the final delivery city and address conditions. Say whether the comparison is port-to-port, terminal-to-terminal or door-to-door. The mode guide lays out air, ocean, courier and the domestic road leg separately.
3. State the contract's delivery term
Write the chosen Incoterms 2020 rule with its named place. The International Chamber of Commerce distinguishes rules for any mode from rules intended for sea and inland waterway transport. The sale contract and quote should make clear who bears each cost and who arranges the related formalities.
4. Ask for the exclusions in writing
Request a breakdown of main carriage, fuel and security surcharges, origin handling, Australian customs and biosecurity clearance, destination terminal and storage charges, local delivery, insurance and any minimum charge. Confirm the transit commitment and what it excludes. Do not add unknown fees as zero; treat them as unpriced variables.
5. Check the import side before booking
The Australian Border Force explains that tariff classification, valuation, origin, labelling and product-specific permits can affect import requirements. Match the commercial invoice, packing list and transport documents to the cargo. A qualified broker can advise on a particular declaration; this site does not lodge one.
Compare the same scope
Once every provider has responded, compare the written service scope and timing alongside the total charge. If one quote omits a cost or uses another divisor, ask for clarification before treating it as cheaper. Current rates and carrier performance are not obtained by this site.
Sources checked 2026-10-05: DHL Global Forwarding Australia, ICC Incoterms 2020 Q&A, Australian Border Force import requirements.